Since Nokia’s announcement of a new Lumia model (eventually launched earlier this month), tech enthusiasts have been in flux as to whether it has the gall to measure up to the newest successor of the Apple throne, the iPhone 5S. Within the heat of the aluminium vs. polycarbonate debate, what it probably all comes down to is choice; a delicacy largely dependent on anything from personal usability requirements, to owners’ purposes and intentions. Whilst nobody can outright tell you which phone is better for you, they can offer you a well-rounded, purpose-focused comparison…which is what we’re going to do.
Design & Display
The Nokia Lumia 1020 is the clear supersede here, with its 4.5 inch screen, a 768 x 1280 resolution and a pixel density of 332ppi. It also comes with typical features such as high brightness mode and sunlight readability, and carries convenient extras such as a super-sensitive touchscreen (great for winter-gloved hands and long fingernails).
The iPhone 5S, meanwhile, maintains its 4 inch screen, 640 x 1136 resolution and 326ppi. It brings only minimal changes to its outer skin, but undeniably, the changes are worth noting. The most distinct of these is the TouchID sensor ring that has been built into the phone’s power button, delivering enhanced security for its user by recognising and recording his or her fingerprint. In addition, the power button itself is now made from sapphire crystal, meaning goodbye to scratches.
Cameras
The iPhone 5S continues Apple’s run for impressive camera ability, with 1.5 micron pixels; auto-image stabilisation; burst-shot mode and 120 fps slow motion recording, and turin-LED flash, for more light when shooting in dark conditions.
Yet the extra credit here deservedly goes to the Nokia Lumia’s breathtaking camera function, which is undoubtedly where much of its appeal oozes from. An impressive 41 mega pixel ‘PureView’ sensor, flaunting premium features such as Xenon flash, six different lens effects, optical image stabilisation and the ability to zoom 3x without losing image quality. The camera’s floating-lens technology also enables the lens to capture 5-10 times more light, which ensures a bright and crisp photo quality, useful also for capturing those smooth, detailed HD videos. And with Nokia’s ‘Rich Recording’ technology, you won’t have to worry about distortion or background noise ruining your recollection of a good night.
Software & Features
The Nokia Lumia 1020 runs on Microsoft Windows 8, which enables its use of widely-used programmes such as Skype, Microsoft Office and Lync. Brand-exclusive apps, such as Nokia ‘Here’ Location Service and Nokia Drive, make an interesting replacement for the usual Google-reliant GPS tools, with the LiveSight function revealing all of the shops, businesses and restaurants within your city when you simply hold up your phone.
The iPhone 5S is also testing out some changes on behalf of iOS 7, Apple’s new operating system. As well as the TouchID feature, it brings new functions to the table, such as Multitasking, the redesigned Notification Centre, an all-new Control Centre and Airdrop, which will probably be more favourable in the eyes of long-time Apple devotees.
Performance
The Lumia brags a much sturdier battery capacity at 520 hours of standby maximum, as opposed to the iPhone’s 250 hours. The iPhone does, however, come with varying memory capacities of 16GB and 32GB, with 02 Customer Services offering the exclusive option of 64GB.
The Lumia in the meantime sticks firmly to its offering of 32GB, but let’s not forget that it has access to an extra 7GB of SkyDrive cloud storage, and 2GB of RAM, (beating the iPhone’s 1GB). Also, by attaching a Wireless Charging cover, plugs and cables need no longer clutter your desk.
So, Lumia or iPhone? If you’re a budding creative that thrives on visual encapsulation, the camera on the Lumia 1020 may just be too good to pass up. On the flip side, if you’ve long been pitched in the Apple camp, the likelihood is that you’ll probably want to stay there, if not for familiarity with the freshened-up features of the iOS 7.
Stephen Tasker is a tech junkie who loves to write anything about smartphone or the latest gadgets from Apple, Samsung and More.
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